Leanness Into the Soul

“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” Psalm 106:15 (KJV). 

Have you ever made a prayer request that, years later, you realized was foolish?

Looking back, I know I have prayed careless prayers, especially when I was a kid. I remember asking God to send typhoons just because I didn’t want to go to school. I remember asking Him to kill our neighbor’s dog that woke me up an hour before my set alarm time every single morning. A celebrity crush to be my girlfriend, a red sports car, a mansion filled with milk chocolate – these are just some of the many foolish request I have made.

I used to feel bad whenever I thought of all the reckless prayers I have made until I read Elijah’s story when he sat down in the shade of a juniper tree.

Elijah was trying to flee from Jezreel when Jezebel threatened his life. Beersheba was about ninety-five miles from Jezreel, giving us an idea that he probably traveled both day and night and didn’t rest until he arrived in the desert where the tree was. While in the shade of this tree, the prophet who killed hundreds of Baal’s prophets made a unique request:

It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. Thankfully, God didn’t listen to Elijah’s prayer and just put him to sleep.

The children of Israel experienced a different scenario. They forgot about the wonderful works of God and lusted intensely in the desert. They provoked the One who miraculously delivered them out of bondage and slavery in Egypt by doubting whether He could provide for them in the desert or not. They desired more than what God wanted them to have; the manna didn’t satisfy them.

Because of their insistent demand, the Lord finally gave them their request but sent leanness into their souls. They received what they wanted, but they lost what they needed.

They received what they wanted, but they lost what they needed.

Raymart Lugue

We have always been thankful for the things that God has done for us. We praise Him for what He does – promotion, healing, salary increase, and many other visible blessings. But have we tried to thank Him for the things He didn’t do? Have we thought of praising Him for the things He didn’t allow us to have?

Not all good ideas are God ideas. Not all things that we pray for are good for us especially when we consider the welfare of our souls.

We need to be thankful for a God who knows what is best for us. We ought to appreciate the love He has for us, protecting us from the good and the bad and giving us only the best things that will specially make our souls healthy.

Come to think of it. God has all the power to give us what we want. If He had a computer that received all the prayer request that were made in the whole world every day, He could just select all and click yes. The world, however, would be in chaos. We would all be in a total mess because the desires of our hearts are not always what’s best for us.

But have we tried to thank Him for the things He didn’t do? Have we thought of praising Him for the things He didn’t allow us to have?

Raymart Lugue

So, the next time He is delaying the answers to our prayers, let’s trust that He knows what He is doing. The next time He says no to our requests, let’s be thankful. We serve a God who wants to bless us and not send leanness into our souls.